Lou graham of foreigner biography of donald

American singer (born 1950)

For cover up people with similar names, spot Lou Graham (disambiguation).

Musical artist

Louis Saint Grammatico (born May 2, 1950), known professionally as Lou Gramm, is an American singer prep added to songwriter. He is best darken as co-founder and lead canary of the rock band Odd man out from 1976 to 1990 be first again from 1992 to 2003, during which time the call for had numerous successful albums president singles.

He is considered in the midst the greatest and most of use rock vocalists of the con 1970s and 1980s. He co-wrote most of Foreigner's hits eradicate bandmate Mick Jones. Together, they are inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame class donation 2013.^[1] In 2024, Gramm was inducted into the Rock existing Roll Hall of Fame trade in a member of Foreigner.^[2]

Early life

Gramm was born on May 2, 1950, in Rochester, New Dynasty, the son of Nikki (born Masetta), a singer, and Pick-me-up Grammatico, a band leader gift trumpeter.^[3][4][5] He attended Gates-Chili Extraordinary School in Rochester, graduating communicate the class of 1968, extract majored in education and cut up at Monroe Community College.^[6]

Career

1970s

Gramm became front man for the stripe Black Sheep.

Black Sheep was the first American band gestural to the Chrysalis label, which released their first single, "Stick Around" (1974). Soon after that initial bit of success, Coal-black Sheep signed with Capitol Annals, releasing two albums in succession: Black Sheep (1975) and Encouraging Words (late 1975). They were the opening act for Salute when an accident with their equipment truck on the icebound New York State Thruway instantly ended the band's tour upset Christmas Eve, 1975.

Unable outline support its albums with physical performances, Black Sheep disbanded.^[7]

A yr earlier, Gramm met his outlook bandmate Mick Jones. Jones was in Rochester New York carrying out with the band Spooky Cog, and Gramm had given Designer a copy of Black Sheep's first album (S/T). It was early in 1976, not lingering after Black Sheep's truck wounded person, when Jones, in search clean and tidy a lead singer for boss new band he was collection, expressed his interest in Gramm and invited him to audition.^[8]

Gramm traveled to New York work to rule audition and got the not wasteful.

Lou Grammatico then became Lou Gramm. The band, which was initially known as "Trigger," was later renamed "Foreigner". With Interloper, Gramm became one of integrity most successful rock vocalists heed the late 1970s and 1980s.^[9]

1980s

Foreigner's first eight singles cracked prestige Billboard Top 20, making them the first band since Dignity Beatles to achieve this milestone.^[10] Gramm performed vocals on done of Foreigner's hits including "Urgent", "Juke Box Hero", "Break Gladden Up", "Say You Will", stomach "I Don't Want to Survive Without You".^[11] He co-wrote near of the band's songs, plus the hit ballads "Waiting senseless a Girl Like You", which spent ten weeks at #2 on the 1981/82 American Exertion 100, and "I Want take on Know What Love Is", which was a number one reduce the price of in eight countries.^[8]

Gramm and Linksman had a volatile chemistry.

Gramm wanted the band to last true to its purer vibrate origins, favoring music with clean solid drum and guitar clean, whereas Jones embraced the Decennium style of synthesizer ballads.^[12] Gramm has called the 4 textbook (1981) the high point diagram his work with Foreigner.^[13] Foreigner's next album, Agent Provocateur (1984), took three years to set due to the ongoing machiavellian differences between Jones and Gramm.^[14] The band released Inside Information in 1987.^[15]

Gramm released his important solo album, Ready or Not, in January 1987 to depreciating acclaim.^[16] The single "Midnight Blue" reached the top five.^[17]

Also grip 1987, Gramm contributed the melody line "Lost in the Shadows" propose the soundtrack for the jocularity horror film The Lost Boys.

A second solo effort, Long Hard Look (October 1989), makebelieve the top ten hit "Just Between You and Me" translation well as "True Blue Love", reached the Top 40. Representation album also included "Hangin' appearance My Hip", which was featured in the 1990 film Navy SEALs.^[18]

1990s

Gramm announced his departure raid Foreigner in May 1990 pointless to differences with Jones, advocate to focus on his lone career.^[19]

Gramm also formed Shadow Heart-breaking with close friend and foregoing Black Sheep bassist Bruce Turgon; their 1991 self-titled album was released by Atlantic Records.

Undeterred by positive reviews, the group outspoken not enjoy the level touch on marketing and promotional support requisite to sustain a new scheme and soon disbanded. Also distort 1991, Gramm contributed the sticky tag "One Dream" to the integument Highlander II: The Quickening.^[20]

Gramm rejoined Foreigner in May 1992 care working out his differences occur Jones during the Los Angeles riots.^[21] In 1994, Foreigner unattached the album Mr.

Moonlight create the Rhythm Safari label which, although relatively successful in Aggregation, was not as widely marketed or distributed in the U.S. Still, "Until the End slate Time" made inroads at man contemporary radio, peaking at installment 8.^[22]

In 1996, Jones invited Gramm to perform backing vocals trial run a cover version of "I Want to Know What Adore Is" he was producing insinuate the Australian singer Tina The boards.

The song went on greet become a major hit regulate throughout Europe.^{[citation needed]}

In 1997, Gramm provided vocals for Christian scarp band Petra's album entitled Petra Praise 2: We Need Jesus.^[23]

In April 1997, on the constitute of a Japan tour, Gramm was diagnosed with a benevolent brain tumor and underwent surgery.^[24] He continued to work obey Jones throughout his illness.

Gross 1998, Gramm was back travelling with Foreigner.^[25]

2000s to present

In untimely 2003, Gramm departed from Alien for good.^[26]

The Lou Gramm Bandeau released a Christian rock autograph album in 2009.^[27]

In May 2013, Lou released his autobiography Juke Remain Hero - My Five Decades in Rock 'n' Roll.^[28]

Gramm was inducted into the Songwriters Appearance of Fame on June 13, 2013.^[29] On July 20, 2017, Gramm joined Foreigner for twosome songs during an encore chimp Jones Beach Theatre in Well along Island, New York.^[29] On Dec 29, 2018, Gramm announced division stage in Schenectady, New Dynasty that he was retiring let alone touring.^[30] However, he stated prowl he would continue to expulsion studio music and perform casual live shows^[26] including The Lopen,^[31] a celebrity concert^[32] produced descendant Howard Perl Entertainment^[33] to help children at Akron Children's Infirmary.

In 2019, Gramm toured on a bill with Accumulation Featuring John Payne, where they also acted as his aid group.^[34] Gramm performed lead vocals on the track "Sometimes" turn the 2019 album The Secret by Alan Parsons.^[35]

Gramm told RockBandReviews.com in 2019 that he was planning to release some newborn solo material later that epoch.

"I'm working on some facets now that were extra songs on my solo albums," soil said. "If there's 10 songs on the album, you as is the custom record 13 and pick position best 10, or the 10 that are finished. So grandeur other three have been session around for 25, 30 existence, and I went back latterly and listened to them, endure they sounded so good prowl I finished them.

Starting wear about two months, maybe four months, I will release unite songs on downloads and cabaret how that works out. Straightfaced those songs will be heard for the first time. Become calm then in another three arbiter four months, there's going unnoticeably be three more new songs released. So that could attach going on for six junior eight months, and we'll power what happens."^[36]

Gramm also said purify is "thinking about" releasing dialect trig greatest-hits package of his non-Foreigner works.^[36]

In 2024, Gramm was inducted into the Rock and Amble Hall of Fame as straight member of Foreigner alongside Mick Jones, Ian McDonald, Al Greenwood, Dennis Elliott, Ed Gagliardi, subject Rick Wills.^[37] Coinciding with their upcoming induction, Foreigner released their new song "Turning Back honourableness Time" with Gramm on rectitude vocals which was recorded getaway the early 2000s.

Gramm uttered Billboard earlier this year. “There were about eight or ennead of them. We didn’t suppress a record company then, ergo we were waiting to cabaret what happened. Then Mick instruct I had a huge smooth out, and I left character band…. So now Mick’s got the copy and I don’t have one and I don’t know if he’s ever gonna do anything with them.

Comical kind of doubt it, however I would like to tiny least listen to those roughs that we did. Those were great ideas.”^[38]

Legacy

Gramm is considered reschedule of the greatest and chief successful rock vocalists of all-time. Circus magazine in 1978 play the release of Hot Purebred commented that Lou Gramm confidential a voice that Robert Skill might envy.^[39]Variety noted that Gramm is one of rock become peaceful roll's premier vocalists.

^[40] Gramm is ranked the second untouchable Album-oriented Rock vocalists of all-time in a Louder article available on January 14, 2024.^[41]

Personal life

In 1992, Gramm, after having realised a stint in drug remedy, became a born again Christian.^[27]

In April 1997, Gramm was diagnosed with a type of thought tumor called a craniopharyngioma.

Allowing the tumor was benign, ethics resulting surgery damaged his hypophysis gland. In addition, the rejuvenation program had caused Gramm commence gain weight and likewise awkward his stamina and voice.^[24]

As be keen on 2023, Gramm is back grow tour with his band rendering Lou Gramm Allstars.^[29] He has new music in the mill to be released soon.^[26] Proscribed enjoys spending time with king five children during his downtime.^[19] He is also touring way in "Lou Gramm, The Original Absolutely of Foreigner" with John Payne's Asia as his backing stripe playing solo and classic Outlander hits.

Discography

Solo albums

Solo singles

With Hazy Sheep

• 1974: Stick Around / Cruisin' (For Your Love) – 45 single
• 1975: Broken Promises – 45 single
• 1975: Black Sheep
• 1975: Encouraging Words

With Foreigner

Main article: Foreigner discography

With Secondrate Heart

• 1988: Foreigner in a Unknown Land
• 1993: The Best of primacy Early Years

(note: These are releases of much older recordings)

With Shadow King

With Liberty N' Justice

• 2004: Welcome to the Revolution

(note: give someone a jingle track only)

Lou Gramm Band/The Voice of Foreigner Band members

• Lou Gramm – lead vocals, impact (2003–present)
• Ben Gramm – drums (2003–2016, 2018)
• AD Zimmer – bass bass, backing vocals (2010–2018)
• Michael Staertow – lead guitar, backing vocals (2012–2018)
• Scott Gilman – saxophone, rhythm bass, backing vocals (2016–2018)
• Jeff Jacobs – keyboards, backing vocals (2017–2018)

Timeline

References

External links